32 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



by their contact with white men of the lower order. As with other 

 Indians, the habits of individuals differ according to the degree and 

 character of their contact with whites, being, in general, worst where 

 the contact with the bad element of whites is the closest. Drunk- 

 enness has been stopped among the Mescaleros ; and on the Jicarilla 

 reservation drunkenness or dissolute conduct occurs very seldom. 



The sweat baths among the San Carlos Apache are taken in the 

 following manner: Usually three or four men take the sweat bath 

 together. They construct a small hut in a suitable place near the 

 river and cover it with sheets and blankets. There is but a small 

 entrance, and over this also hangs a blanket. A fire is made al)out 

 some stones, outside the hut. Inside is placed a dish of water. 

 When the stones have been well heated the men, having in the mean- 

 time undressed, bring them into the hut, close the entrance, sprinkle 

 water over them, and continue to do so until enough steam has been 

 generated to produce thorough sweating. When this has been satis- 

 factorily accomplished the men run out and take a plunge into the 

 water of the river. They then drink as much of the cold water as 

 they can imtil vomiting is induced. They believe the cold water in 

 the heated body causes the vomiting. This finishes their purification. 

 Those of the younger generation take but few such baths; "they can 

 not stand it like the old timers." Moreover, the ceremonies for which 

 such a preliminary purification was deemed necessary, as well as the 

 native medicine-men who occasionally ordered such baths, are con- 

 tinually growing fewer. In warm weather both men and women 

 bathe frequently in the river, and many are good swimmers. The 

 women also bring their children t(^ these baths. 



Among all branches of the Apache, including the Lipan, the bed 

 is generally made from a layer of cedar, pine, or other boughs, or 

 leaves, straw, or hay, with blankets and quilts and occasionally a 

 mattress upon it. The boughs or leaves are changed when they 

 become dry or soiled, as well as after an illness. 



Among all the Apache, as in other tribes, women ride horseback 

 astride, sometimes without saddles (though usually on a folded cloth 

 or blanket) or stirrups. The men often ride without saddles. 



The San Carlos women cut most of the wood (mesquite) needed in 

 the household, wielding without discomfort the regular large wood- 

 man's ax; the men, however, cut most of the heavier wood for sale. 



The dwellings are not kept very clean. Remnants of food are 

 often left on the ground, around the fire, and the same is true with 

 regard to nasal and throat discharges. Most of the food particles, 

 however, are picked up by the dogs. 



The Walapai, an approachable and common-sense people, show 

 habits closely resembling those of the Apache. In recent years they 

 were reduced to a state bordering on pauperism, but an improvement 



